San Francisco 49ers linebacker Aldon Smith was arrested Thursday morning after crashing his truck into a tree. Smith was booked for driving under the influence and possession of marijuana. The first thought in the minds of 49ers’ fans is how the arrest would affect his playing time. However, it appears the entire ordeal is a minor issue in the eyes of the organization.
Smith posted bail and was able to participate in Thursday’s afternoon practice. What does the arrest mean for his playing status on Sunday against the Indianapolis Colts? That is a question for only head coach Jim Harbaugh to answer.
“I expect Aldon — like today — he’ll be back to work and playing on Sunday,” Harbaugh said, according to SFGate.com. “I anticipate that, yes.”
Obviously, this is not very shocking, but rather, disappointing. Professional athletes typically get away with pretty much anything. One would imagine there would be some consequences for Smith’s irresponsible actions, especially since the NFL is cracking down on driving under the influence. However, it appears it will be up to the league to decide what the consequences will be because as far as the 49ers are concerned Smith is off the hook.
This is certainly a lost opportunity for the team to discipline Smith. There are children who are fans of the 49ers and will definitely hear about what happened to one of their favorite players. If certain consequences do not become public then it is obviously sending the wrong message.
The 49ers will take on the Colts at Candlestick Park Sunday afternoon.
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